Would You Use This Type of Shop ?

We have a shop like the one you describe here, The Bra Bar and Panterie. It has been open for at least 20 years, is very popular and has actually expanded to two locations now.

I've seen specialty stores like that, though I personally have not used them. I think that if you had the right market, you could do well catering to people who want more than Victoria's Secret offers.

Yes, I would. Finding bras I like is the bane of my existence. I also like supporting independent businesses. I would expect to pay a higher price for outstanding service and a quality product.

Where I live there is only the usual choices, VS included. Bleck.

:)

Yes, that's what I already do. I would never buy on line, and the only bras I've bought at places like Target are sports bras. But for my regular bras, I definitely want a personal fitter and I willingly pay the difference.

We have a chain that does what you are talking about, called Lady Grace. Maybe they are only in the Northeast? I don't know how many are corporation-owned stores and how many are franchises. I have found the staff to be professional and helpful - none of the jokes or disrespect as mentioned below. You should definitely research how they do it, how they train their staff (and how? Who actually does bra training?) and how much of a time commitment is involved.

My concern for you is the unbelievable time and financial commitment! This is very difficult to undertake without a huge amount of cash! Either you buy a franchise, or you start an independent shop. That means a solid business plan and bank financing. None of that happens without a ton of market research and a whole lot of training, not just in bra fitting, but in contacting manufacturers and distributors, evaluating materials, getting the best possible wholesale prices (vs. department stores and franchises which already have contracts based on huge volume). You have to show why you are different from the other stores which have deep pockets. You have rent and utilities and overhead, employee salaries and insurance (medical, workers' comp, liability, etc.). I have an in-home business precisely for that reason - I don't pay rent or overhead, so I don't have to increase prices to cover all of that. (Think of your grocery store prices - every item includes the cost of electricity, rent, employees to stock and clean and ring up purchases, managers, insurance, food brokers & distributors, and so on.)

You have a massive cash outlay for inventory, display equipment, signage, etc. before you ever make your first sale. You need an advertising campaign which is expensive just for the concept, writing and art direction - you can't just put up flyers, rely on "drive-by" visibility or run little ads in the paper saying "We give personal attention" or something like that. A good campaign is worth it - too many people focus on a cute name or a nice logo, thinking that's a sales technique. It's not. My husband has been in this business for decades so we've seen it all. This is why so many businesses fail in the first 2 years. They don't have the funds or they don't have the knowledge about how important each step is.

You would be working 6 days a week, and spending evenings doing payroll and stocking shelves/racks. Just be sure you know what you are getting into! It's a very very long haul before you actually show profits and draw a salary for yourself so be sure you have a substantial financial cushion.

Yes. I only buy my bras at shops like this and have one favorite place here in Portland. I've seen women of all shapes and sizes in that store-- one thing to add is that they also sold good nursing bras there too. Saw several expectant moms there in the times I've visited.

Just to add, from my experience, it would be good to have client accounts to keep track of sizes, orders, etc. Some sizes are popular and so if you need to order things for customers to come in and try on, you want that info. My size isn't well-stocked; so sometimes they have had to order items for me to come in and try and once I bought a one-size-bigger band size to accommodate the fact they didn't have the cup size I needed in stock and I needed a bra *that* day. They did offer to order the bra in my size.... so all that to say, customer service is important.

They also have one person trained in fitting mastectomy/prosthetic clients, who also has compassionate people skills. They have some time set aside every week for medical fittings so that person is on staff at that time and those fittings can be prescheduled so the clients aren't just on the list with the walk-in customers. The staff appreciate that this can be a sensitive process for a woman and try to make it as pleasant as possible.

Also, the shop I go to has a fitting fee of $15 which is waived upon purchase. Their prices were also reasonably competitive with the department stores.

We have Petticoat Fair here in town. Seems like they have been here forever. They are experts. Very professional.

They will fit you. They have a huge stock of bras and undergarments.

They cater to all women, even Trans women and women that have had mastectomies. They have a website.
Petticoatfair.com

You may want to consider visiting some of these stores to find out more about them.

Retail is tough work. When you are the owner, you need to be there at all times in the beginning. I am talking 2 years... So if you are open 6 days a week 10am to 6 or 7:00 pm, you will need to be there 9:00 am for you deliveries of new merchandise until 6:30 or 7:30 pm, to close up the store.

I am not trying to discourage you, just give you realistic expectations. I was in retail for over 30 years. I made it look like fun, but I worked my butt off. Going to market is at least 10 hr days searching for merchandise and ordering it. Who will manage your shop while you are away? You will need deep pockets for a lease, merchandise electricity, computer register and of course a sales staff.

I'm in Plano and we have a store like that called Loretta's Intimates located at Collin Creek ( 75/George bush tollway)

There's another specialty store that will make a custom bra for you as well as have specialties off Royal lane in Dallas

Neimans, Nordstrom and Diilsrds are known for having good bra selections and good fitters.

I am not familiar with Mansfield. You might check Southlake for a specialty store.

I found nothing embarrassing with any of the stores I go to for bras. I'm there for a reason and its nothing to be embarrassed about. Typically I shop Neimans for my most favorite bra and paid way less than Loretta's. I have no issue paying more for quality.

One thing I found was that Loretta's at the time didn't carry styles I prefer. I don't like all the added lace, seams, etc. I like a simple unlined cup with very functional straps and band. Wacoal has my favorite bra like that... And it is $45 at Neimans. My Loretta's bra I bought for $90 is a good bra but I hate the lace and fru fru all over the cup. I felt like those bras were attempting to cover up my boobs for some reason.

I might go to a specialty store once to check it out but I'd probably remain loyal to Neimans and Wacoal. Dillard's and Nordstrom carry Wacoal as well.

Retail is very difficult to get into and maintain success. You'll need a good chunk of money, be willing to be at the store running it yourself, consider employees... Then you look at benefits, etc. talk to legal and tax counsel and get a feel for what to expect before you jump in. Many people have great ideas and don't realize the risk Vs reward

Good luck if you decide to open a business. Hard work and little payout personally for quite some time.

We have something like that here...

http://www.trousseaultd.com/

They started out doing bras only - then expanded...now they do wedding stuff too!!

If there's a need, your store will succeed. Have you thought about contacting the store in North Dallas to find out if they would be willing to franchise to your area and you would run it? That way you would have the inventory and all the other business stuff (insurance, lease agreements, security, and all the other things that go into running and operating a business) you need behind you.

Running a business is NOT for the faint of heart. It takes time and dedication. Is there a need for this? Most likely yes! You just have to ensure you have things people will want to buy - supply and demand - word of mouth is a GREAT way to grow your business - as well as having what people NEED!!

Good luck!

Sure would!
The "specialty bra stores" I've seen nearby me are kind of like Fredericks! Lol
If you've got some boobage going on? VS really stinks.
And in Macy's, Kohls, etc. with larger sizes, the selection is really, REALLY limited.
So....heck yeah!

First do you have access to several thousand $. Enough to not need to make a profit for at least 2 years.

I notice you enjoy spending time with your boys. It will be several years before you will have much time with them. My father owned his own business repairing appliance. He starTed in a small town and couldn't make enough money to keep it in spite of my mother and aunt working without pay. We moved where he was an employee until he had enough money to open his shop which he had for 30+ years. Again, my mom worked withour pay for several years and money was always tight.

On to your question: I live in a large metropolitany area. My daughter found a couple such shops in the area on the web. I know of another in my neighborhood. I would need to do an extensive study before opening one. That study would cost many $.

You have a pleasant idea but one that would take a lot of money and time.

YES!! Like Suz T, I have had two separate, really terrible experiences with Victorias Secret. At a 36DD and size 10, I was told that maybe I should try Speedo for something that would fit my "large size." They basically acted like Jabbette the Hut had just waddled into the store looking for a cute bra and really, how dare she. I tried again nearly ten years later and was told that they carried larger sizes, just online. Because we will take Jabbette's money, but we certainly don't want her in our stores.

So I would be thrilled to have a quality store with quality products that had actual customer service.

I think I might, especially for swim suits.

There is a lingerie shop in Austin that is similar to your idea.... as far as I know, it is very popular. Laurie A also mentioned it... Petticoat Fair.

My daughter has shopped there several times, as she is an odd size, and very busty. She really likes the bras, but can't afford to shop there very often. Her bras usually run around $70.

They did a very nice job of properly fitting a person with a good bra. I went with her one time, and they were very professional, not jokey or insulting.

It is still in business, so it must be popular enough.

Yes. Please come create this store in the DC suburbs!! We used to have a place like that near us and it closed up years ago, probably because of everyone buying online. But I HAVE to try on bras. And I find that department stores' "trained fitting experts" seem to have had maybe a few hours' training and tend to have little real experience fitting people. I would love to see another bra specialty store, with very experienced fitters and a huge range of sizes and styles in stock, right there in the store.

Be sure to serve very petite women as well as those with large breasts -- my mom was super petite and had as horrible a time finding the right bra as do women with large breasts to support. And please carry a lot of bras that are NOT underwire! I can't wear those and it seems more and more bras have underwires now.

I hope you make a go of this. Of course you need to get a professional development company to help you assess the market in your area before you commit to a business. And it might need to wait at least until your kids are in full-time school, if they currently are not. But it's a business I wish we had around here.

i'd be tickled to find an independent shop that did this. VS treated me shabbily several years ago so lost my business forever (not that they ever had much of it) and the big department stores i've tried that had 'fitters' just basically had people who measured me and then recommended whatever the chart said to recommend. and they have yet to put me in a good bra. i've simply resorted to the most comfy cheap sports bras i can find and i buy 'em in bulk.
khairete
S.

Yes, I would. In fact, all women should!

I think that the best think you could do is spend some money on marketing. We all know that we should be fitted properly but who has the time or desire? If you marketed your store to have quick and private fittings and all sizes/brands/prices for ALL, I think that you could do really well.

Good luck!

I think it's a great idea.
Besides swimwear though I would include a line of pretty nities and jamies with matching robes and slippers. You could do the 'honeymoon' looks too. Be sure to include a bridal registry as a part of your package.

There is a lingerie shop about 20 miles from me. The owner keeps bras in stock up to 56L. She also has a nice selection of night wear and swimwear. She does bra fittings and bends over backward to make sure she can get the hard to fit sizes.

I did a fitting once for a young woman who needed a 42 or 44 A. Poor thing I had nothing that even came close to fitting her. I sent her to the other shop and she was able to find a bra that fit her.

I'm sure I could benefit from a professional fitting, but of all the times I have had one (when I was a young teen, when I was in my late teens, when I was pregnant, when I was nursing) I have never, ever had a positive experience. Different parts of the country, different types of stores, different fitters, all the same condescending, jokey, humiliating attitude and experience. Each time, fitters thought my body (which, honestly, isn't that unusual) was something to make fun of, comment loudly on my size, use jokey names for breasts or bras… Discretion and maturity was nonexistent. I'm sure there are a lot of women like you who enjoy stores like that, but I'm sorry, because of extensive personal experience, I do not. If you go that route, good luck.

Yes, I think it would be popular if you are in a big enough city. Probably not in a small town. There is one in the LA area called Wizard of Bras. Take a look at their website and it might help you with your business model.

I will provide my answer for the other end of the bra size scale. If there was a convent shop where I could get fitted. Without feeling embarrassed, out of place, etc. I would do it as long as the price of bras wasn't to terribly high.
I do not 'fit in' at Victoria Secret and don't know of any other place where the woman know what they are doing.

I haven't really had a bra fit properly for years. Granted if the store mainly catered to larger busted women then I would be intimidated. (Bust size is the thing that a lot of us smaller chested women dream about). I am appx a 34B-32A or B

Yes I would, and I've been to this place:
http://www.lorettasintimates.com/

Worth a look, since they are in the North DFW burbs area. :)

ETA: I've also heard decent things about Soma in the Stonebriar mall.

Yes, I would use this type of shop!!

I'm just now realizing that my bras are all old and crappy and I now have to go bra shopping. Gawd, I hate bra shopping.

BTW, yeah, I'd love a shop like that.

There is already a store an hour away. I would travel the hour. Not sure another would work so close by.

I know of several stores just like that, including one I've purchased bras from near me. I love it! They are pricy because they carry higher end brand bras. I've gone to the websites for the bra companies I've bought at the store and found that they are selling for exactly the list price from the company so they aren't marked up by the store.

Have you been to Soma? If there is one in your area, you could check it out. I don't think that they have masectomy bras. I don't know if they carry a 54 DD but still, you could look at their set up and see if it helps you.

There's a store like this in Tulsa OK. They fight to stay in business every day. There just isn't much of a need for it due to the majority of women buying their bras at stores like Victoria's Secrets and J C Penney's and Walmart.

I wear a 42 DDD and the cup is a bit wrong but if I go to the bigger cup size the top of the cup goes over my shoulder. I'm NOT that short either. But the cup is so tall that it's just too big for me so I have to go with a cup that is slightly too small. My boobs touch in the middle and the cups don't' fit against my body between, in my cleavage.

So many women have no idea how a bra is supposed to fit. My daughter wears whatever bra goes around and doesn't look bad. I've told her the cups aren't big enough many times.

So I'm not sure women would come to you and I know for sure they won't pay high prices for a bra that fits. No matter how well it fits. They just aren't going to pay much for bras.

The ones in Tulsa that I tried on were nearly $40 each and I can go to Lane Bryant and buy the Cacique brand that fits the closest. I can get buy one get one free several times per year. Then I can spend about $50 and get 4 bras that will last me a couple of years.

No I would not because of the price. Most places in my area charge over $100 per bra (I have big boobs and need support) that have this kind of service. I can squeeze them into a $50 Macy's/Nordstrom bra and even that is a lot in my opinion.

I do know many other women who do spend that kind of money and they think it is worth it.

It will be really expensive to carry so many specialty sizes. There is a reason VS carries certain sizes, they are common and women (especially in the USA) have been trained to buy those sizes even if they are meant to be 30F, they wear a 36C from VS.

The staff needs to be amazing. One mis-worded sentence and the customer will have her feelings hurt. Women are very sensitive about their body. I watched one women scream at a Macy's worker for saying "here is the size D." The worker did nothing wrong other than humiliate a woman in denial. It was for nylons not a bra, and the lady wanted to be known as a size B. At least that is what she was saying as she yelled and left the store. Everyone could see she was not a B, but her. You run the risk of hire a kind worker who says the wrong thing.

Likely yes. I am rather average and most often, any old bra will fit. However, I would try to keep the overhead down by renting a space large enough for a cozy boutique.

You will have to find a way to advertise to a specific cliental. How would you find that demographic? Perhaps make some sort of email ad by collecting emails as they come in to the store, provided they are willing to give it to you. As well, you may want to leave some business cards or postcards with the formal shops and or the cosmetic doctors office.

Absolutely as long as there was something in my price range.

This sounds a lot like Victoria Secret, however, they don't carry larger sizes. It would be nice to be able to have this type of service for my size! I say go for it!

Great idea! I would be interested if it were in my area. We used to have Ann's Bra and Lingerie shop here in MO. They did the same - personal fitting, hard-to-fit sizes, breast cancer survivors. My only advice is that when I first went in, it was great. The staff was older, knowledgeable, kind... About a year before they closed I went in and they had a young girl (21 or 22, probably??) helping me. It was pretty humiliating because she was so young, tiny, fit, and it just was uncomfortable. So as long as you choose your staff wisely, have all price points, and styles, I think it's a great idea!

Minus the size...this hypothetical store sounds just like Victoria Secret...the only place I ever buy bras.
Best of luck!!!

Honestly, no I would not. But I know how to measure properly (thanks youtube) and I have a pretty common size. I can buy bras that fit well for $15 at a Target.

ETA: I would consider it for bathing suits though. For some reason, department stores seems to think that women with small busts don't need support in bathing suits. This is SO not true! Ok, maybe it's true of 17 year olds, but at 40+ and after nursing multiple babies, yes, I need support even though I'm on the small size!!.

This sounds a lot like http://maddoxshop.com/, which will do exactly what you have described and is still open. I don't know if your business would be far enough away to compete, but I know it would have a following if it could!